Apparatus for effecting simultaneous movement of interrelated members



Dec. 16, 1941. H. R. DE VEAU APPARATUS FOR EFFEGTING SIMULTANEOUSMOVEMENT OF INTERRELATED MEMBERS Filed June 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IENTOR 4 v 2 w 4 0N o a 0 5 z I. Iv W. 6, JH H n M4 J m V1 V a 4 4 MANY,2, 1m 6 z a m z 4 .H 6 m z a .n M 1 M a, I 4 0 4 7 m d M x M. 4'

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M v BY ATTORNEZ Dec. 16, 1941. H. R. DE VEAU 2,266,010

APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING SIMULTANEOUS MOVEMENT OF INTERRELATED MEMBERSFiled June 8, 1940 2 Sh eets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ed ATTORNEY nun- U8 L. 3 YB Patented Dec. 16, 1941 r orgies APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING ,SHVIULTA-NEOUS MOVEMENT QF INTERRELATED MEMBERS Harry R. De Veau, Port Chester,N. Y.; Winifred De Veau administratrix of said Harry R.

De Veau, deceased Application June 8, 1940, Serial No. 333,409.

(Cl. 155-14) Y 6 Claims.

This invention is directed to an apparatus for efiecting movement of aplurality of inter-related 7 members.

The apparatus has numerous uses so for the sake of clarity ofdescription it will be described as applied to adjustable seats.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a constructionwherein a plurality of members may be advanced or retractedsimultaneously but at different relative speeds. Thus in case of seats,for example, the seat proper may be advanced or retracted, the back restof the seat moving in the same direction as the seat but for a difierentdistance, or what amounts to the same thing at a different speed.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a construction suchas just outlined wherein the angle of the seat and back rest withrespect to the horizontal is varied during the movement of these twomembers.

' A still further object of my invention is the provision of aconstruction for effecting movement or adjustment of a member or aplurality of members wherein due to my peculiar construction only theminimum of movement of the adjusting mechanism is required to eifect themaximum movement of the member or members.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a part sectional side elevational view of one embodiment ofthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. l; and Fig. 5 is a viewsimilar to Fig. l of another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings indetail and firs of all to Figs. 1 to 4,inclusive: 2 and 4 designate the side frames of the apparatus. It willbe noticed that each side frame is provided with two inclined surfacesdesignated 6 and 8.

Resting upon the side frames is a carriage which for purposes of thisdescription comprises a seat portion l and back rest 12. The seat Inis'provided at each side, front and rear, with rollers l4 and I5, therollers 14 at all times riding on the inclined surfaces of the sideframes, the rollers l5 riding at all times on the inclined surfaces 8 ofthe side-frame. The rollers are carried in straps 18 which encircle theside frames.

Near the forward edge of the seat In the frame of my apparatus isprovided with vertically extending plungers 20 moving in guides 22.These plungers are provided for the purpose of steadying the seat as thesame is raised and lowered when adjusting the seat along the inclinedsurfaces 6 and 8.

The seat I ll is provided with a flat plate 24 extending from the frontto the rear thereof and rigidly secured to the same are two nuts 26 and28. These nuts are oppositely threaded. The back rest l2 carries a nut39 which is in line with the nuts 25 and 28.

Extending lengthwise of the seat and lying beneath the bar 24 is a rod32, the forward end of this rod passing through a bracket 34 carried atthe front edge of the seat Ill. The rod 32 is held against endwisemovement in this bracket 34 by washers 36 or other convenient means butmoves endwise with the seat as the seat is moved forwardly andrearwardly, the bracket moving with the seat. The rod 32 is adapted toberotated by a hand wheel 38 or other convenient means.

The rod 32 is squared or has other out-ofround shape and extends throughfour sleeves 40, 42, 44 and 46. These sleeves are slidable on the rodbut rotate with it by reason of its square or other non-circular crosssection.

Extending transversely of the seat adjacentthe front edge thereof is afixed bar 48. This bar is secured at its ends to the plunger 20 in theguides 22 which in turn are secured to the fixed frame 4. At the centerof this bar 4; is a fixed'nut 50 which is mounted on the underside ofthe bar and receives the sleeve 40. The sleeve 40, as will be seen fromFig. 1, is threaded exteriorly at each end, the threads 52 at one endbeing of the opposite hand to the threads 54 at the other end of V isprovided exteriorly with threads 64 opposite in hand to the threads 62and this end of the sleeve is threaded into the nut28 which, as above explained, is rigidly secured to the bar 24.

The sleeve ts is threaded at one end into the nut 26 previously referredto and which is rigidly secured to the bar 24, the threads 65' at thisend of the sleeve being of the same hand as the threads 52 and 52 of thesleeves 42 and 40, respectively. The other end of this sleeve 44 isthreaded into one end of a nut 68 which lies beneath the bar 24 but isnot secured thereto, the threads Ill at this end of the sleeve being ofthe opposite hand to the: threads 66 but of the same hand as the threads64 and 54 of the sleeves 42 and 40, respectively. The opposite end ofthe nut 68 receives the sleeve 46, the threads I2 of which are of thesame hand as the threads 66 of the sleeve 44. The other end of thesleeve 46 is threaded into the nut 38 carried by the back rest I2, thethreads I4 at this end of the sleeve 46 being of the opposite hand tothe threads I2 at the other end of the sleeve but of the same hand asthe threads 10, 64 and 54 of the sleeves 44, 42 and 40, respectively.

It will be seen from all of the foregoing that if the handle 38 isrotated in an anti-clockwise direction to rotate the actuating rod 32the seat I and back rest I2 will be moved forwardly and of course ifthis wheel is rotated in the opposite direction then the seat and backrest will be moved rearwardly.

It will be appreciated, furthermore, that were the rod 32 merelythreaded into the nut 58 the seat and back rest would move the samedistance.

However, the object of this invention, as above pointed out, is toprovide for a quick adjustment of the seat and back rest with th minimummovement of the wheel 38 and to have the seat and back rest movedifferent distances so that not only are these two members adjustedsimultaneously but they are adjusted relatively to each other.

As pointed out above, the sleeves 48, 42, 44 and '46 are slidable alongthe rod 32 but at the same time rotate with the rod. Assuming the partsto be in the position shown in Fig. 1 and that the rod 32 is rotated inan anti-clockwise direction. Under these conditions the sleeve 48 willmove to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, for a certain distance dependingupon the pitch of the threads 52 and the amount the rod 32 is rotated.

The nut 58' it is to be remembered is stationary. On this same movementthe nut 58 which is threaded on the other end of the sleeve 48 will beadvanced to the right a greater amount than the sleeve because not onlydoes the nut advance with the sleeve 48 but rides along the sleeve dueto the fact that the threads 54 of the'sleeve are of the opposite handto the threads 52 at the other end of the sleeve.

Inasmuch as 88 is in effect integral with 58 it is bound to move to theright the same distance as 58 carrying with it the sleeve 42. However,the threads 62 of the sleeve 42 are of the same hand as the threads 52of the sleeve 48. Consequently advance of the sleeve 42 will be greaterthan the advance of the sleeve 40. I

The sleeve 42 is threaded into the nut 28 which is secured to the seat I8 and will draw the nut 28' and hence the seat II] to the right, the nut28 also traveling along the sleeve to the right due to the fact that thethreads 84 are of the opposite hand to the-threads 62 on the samesleeve. The seat therefore moves to the right, as viewed in thedrawings, when the bar 32 is rotated anticlockwise, at a greaterdistance for a given turn of the hand wheel 38 than would be the case ifthe bar 32 were merely threaded into the fixed nut 58 and attached tothe seat. Very little rotation is necessary, therefore, of the handwheel 38- to effect considerable longitudinal movement of the seat It).Of course it will be understood that on the reverse rotation of thewheel 33 the seat Ill will beadjusted rearwardly.

Inasmuch as the back rest I2 is connected to the seat II] so far asadjustment is concerned, through the nuts 26, 68 and 30 and the sleeves44 and 46, the back rest I2, it is apparent, must move forward at leastas far as the seat.

The present construction, however, provides that the movement of theback rest be greater than that of the seat. It is to be remembered thaton the assumed rotation of the hand wheel 38 the sleeve 44 which isthreaded into the nut 25 carried by the seat and into the non-rotatablenut 68, is rotated anti-clockwise also, and inasmuch as the sleeve 44 isthreaded into the nut 26 by threads 66 which are of the same hand as thethreads 62 on the sleeve 42, the sleeve 44 will move forward through thenut 26; in other words, the sleeve 44 is moved forward a greaterdistance than the nut 26 and hence a greater distance than the seat II).The nut 68 is threaded on the sleeve 44 by threads I0 which are of theopposite hand to the threads 66 so it will be seen that the nut 68 willbe advanced further than the sleeve 44. The nut 68 isthreaded on thesleeve 46,. the threads I2 being of the same hand as the threads 66 ofthe sleeve 44, so that the sleeve 46 will move forward further than thesleeve 44 and by reason of the fact that the threads I4- of the sleeve46 which engage the nut 30 secured directly to the back rest l2 are ofthe opposite hand to the threads I2 on the sleeve 46, the nut 38 andhence the back rest will move forward at a greater distance than thesleeve 46.

' The net result of all this is that the seat III by reason of my novelarrangement may be advanced or retracted a certain distance dependingupon the amount of rotation given the bar 32 and the pitch of thethreads by which the bar is connected to the seat, the back rest I2 atthe same time moving in .the same direction as the seat but for agreater distance.

In the embodiment of my invention as illustrated in Fig. 5, I show thesame idea as just described but with less differential between theamount of movement of the seat and back rest. In this embodiment of myinvention the bar 32 is equipped with but two sleeves designated, I6 and18. The sleeve I6 is threaded exteriorly as in the case of the sleevesof Fig. 1; the threads 88 at one end of the sleeve being of the oppositehand to the threads 82 atthe opposite end of the same sleeve. The sleeveis threaded at one end into the fixed nut 58, the other end of the tubebeing threaded into a nut 84 which is attached directly to the chairseat I0. The sleeve I8 is threaded exteriorly, the threads 86 at one endof the sleeve being of the same hand as threads but opposite to thethreads 88. at the other end. of the sleeve. The end bearing the threads86 is threaded into a nut carried by the chair seat while the endbearing the threads 88 is threaded into the nut 38 carried by thebackrest.

It will be apparent that if the wheel 38 is-rotated in an anti-clockwisedirection that the sleeve T6 will be moved to the right, as viewed inFig. 5, a certaindistance depending upon the amount of rotation of thewheel 38 and the pitch of the threads 88. By.reason of the fact that thethreads 82 on this sleeve are of the opposite hand to the threads 88,the nut 84 which is attached directly to the chair seat II! will moveforward for a greater distance than the sleeve 16' so that but slightrotation of the wheel 38 is necessary for considerable forward movementof the seat. Inasmuch as the nut 90. is attached to the seat I0 and thesleeve 18 is threaded into this nut by threads 86 of'the same hand asthe threads 80 the sleeve 18 will be advanced a greater distance thanthe seat. The sleeve 18 is threaded into the nut 30 by threads of theopposite hand to the threads 86 so that the nut 30 will be advancedalong the sleeve, and the back rest l2 advanced for a greater distancethan the seat.

It will be seen from all of the foregoing that I have provided aconstruction embodying simple mechanism whereby two members may be movedin the same direction but for different distances simultaneously withminimum movement of the operating mechanism.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spiritand scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a seat member, a back rest therefor, a rotatableadjusting rod, sleeves slidably mounted on and rotatable with said rod,a fixed nut into which one end of one of said sleeves is threaded, amovable nut attached to the seat member into which the opposite end ofthe last mentioned sleeve is threaded, a second nut attached to the seatmember and receiving one end of the other of said sleeves, the oppositeend of the last mentioned sleeve being threaded into the back rest, theopposed ends of each of said sleeves being oppositely threaded, wherebyupon rotation of said rod the seat and back rest will be moved bodily inthe same direction simultaneously, the back rest moving a greaterdistance than the seat, the latter movin further than the sleeve engagedby the said fixed nut.

2. In combination, a seat member, a back rest therefor, means foradvancing and retracting the seat and back rest simultaneously but atdifferent speeds so as to vary their relative disposition, and inclinedsupports for the seat and back rest for tilting the same duringadjustment.

3. In combination, a seat member, a back rest therefor, means foradvancing and retracting the seat and back rest simultaneously and inthe same direction but at diiferent speeds so as to vary their relativedisposition, an inclined support for the seat and back rest for tiltingthe same during adjustment, and steadying means for the seat.

4. In combination, a seat member, a back rest therefor, a rod extendingbeneath said seat and back rest, sleeves carried by said rod, saidsleeves being rotatable with and slidable relatively to said rod, theopposite ends of each sleeve being oppositely threaded, a fixed nutreceiving the threaded end of one sleeve, a non-rotatable nut attachedto the seat member receiving the other end of the last mentioned sleeve,a nut attached to the seat member receiving the end of the other sleevewhich is threaded similarly to the end of the sleeve received by saidfixed nut, the other end of the last mentioned sleeve being threadedinto the back rest.

5. In combination a fixed support, a pair of members to be adjusted, arotary shaft mounted in one of said members, a plurality of sleeve meanshaving oppositely threaded end portions carried by said shaft androtatable therewith and slidable relatively thereto, a fixed nut on saidsupport and receiving the threaded end of one sleeve means, anon-rotatable nut attached to one of said members and receiving theother end of said last mentioned sleeve means, a second nonrotatable nutattached to the same member and receiving one end of another of saidsleeve means and a nut fixed to the other member receiving the other endof the last mentioned sleeve means whereby upon rotation of the shaftsaid members will be adjusted simultaneously in the same directionlongitudinally of the shaft and at different speeds relatively to eachother.

6. In combination a fixed support, first and second members to beadjusted relatively to each other and to said support, a rotary shaftmounted in one of said members, a set of oppositely threaded sleevesmounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith and movable longitudinallythereof, a fixed nut attached to the said support and receiving one endof one of said sleeves, a non-rotatable nut attached to said firstmemher and receiving the oppositely threaded end of another of thesleeves of said set, a second set of oppositely threaded sleeves mountedon said shaft and rotatable therewith and movable longitudinallythereof, a nut fixed to the said first member and receiving one end ofone of the last mentioned sleeves, a non-rotatable nut attached to thesaid second member and receiving the oppositely threaded end of anotherof the second set of sleeves, whereby rotation of said shaft will adjustsaid members simultaneously in the same direction longitudinally of theshaft, one of said members moving a greater distance than the other.

HARRY R. DE VEAU.

